Despite the return of a prominent actor to serious roles, the film “Digger” helmed by two-time Oscar-winning director Alejandro G. Iñárritu and featuring Tom Cruise is facing the prospect of becoming one of the year’s most significant box office failures.
According to reports, the dark comedy’s budget surged from an initial $125 million US to an estimated $160-180 million US, with a break-even point of around $350 million US when factoring in marketing costs (Warner Bros. disputes this, claiming it’s closer to $300 million US). Initial previews only generated $1.2 million US in revenue. Projections suggest the film may only rake in $12-15 million US domestically this weekend, marking a lackluster debut for the studio in a year already marked by underperforming releases.
“Digger,” a peculiar narrative about an oil magnate tasked with rectifying a disaster caused by his own drilling activities, always carried inherent risks. By forgoing the festival circuit, the R-rated black comedy banked on positive word-of-mouth and the star power of Cruise to draw audiences to theaters, bypassing any early critical assessments. This move made strategic sense given that it is Cruise’s first non-franchise film since 2017’s “American Made.”
Despite being directed by Iñárritu, known for his acclaimed works like “Birdman” and “The Revenant,” early critical reviews have been largely unfavorable, with some branding it as the worst film in Cruise’s career. Even positive reviews acknowledged the film’s experimental nature, casting doubts on its commercial viability.
The potential failure of “Digger” poses challenges for Warner Bros., whose 2026 lineup has seen modest successes compared to the previous year. Should the film flop, it may join the ranks of other major box office disappointments of the year like “Melania” and “Desert Warrior.” Nonetheless, there remains speculation about Cruise’s potential for awards recognition, and its appeal on streaming platforms due to his enduring popularity.
The film’s lackluster performance coincides with Warner Bros.’ impending acquisition by Paramount and reports of key executives departing post-merger. The film’s artistic boldness juxtaposed with its underwhelming box office results raises questions about the conglomerate’s future creative decisions.
